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WONG Mew Choo's (pic) will be aiming to maintain her fine record against China's top four in the Malaysia Open at Putra Stadium on Jan 10-15.

Mew Choo, the eighth seed, secured a hat-trick of victories over the top three players -- World No 3 Zhu Lin, World No 2 Zhang Ning and World No 1 Xie Xingfang -- en route to the China Open title in November. The victories over Zhu Lin and Zhang Ning were a first for Mew Choo while her win over Xingfang was her third in eight matches.

Mew Choo's coach Wong Tat Meng said Mew Choo has shown improvement but must keep it up until the Beijing Olympics in August.

"Mew Choo should not face a problem reaching the quarter-finals but the objective is to try and beat Xingfang to make the last four," said Tat Meng in Bukit Jalil yesterday. "It is not going to be an easy task but if Mew Choo wants to secure a medal in the Olympics, she needs to consistently beat the top players.

"At the moment, Mew Choo has the ability to challenge anyone but winning consistently against the top players is something she has to work on."

Mew Choo, who made the Malaysia Open final last year, is not expected to face problems in the first round where she plays compatriot Julia Wong followed by a likely meeting with Singapore's Li Li.

l TOP national pairs Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah are skipping the Korea Open, the second Super Series tournament, in Seoul on Jan 22-27.

Third ranked Zakry Latif-Fairuzizuan Tazari will be competing in Korea as they try to qualify for the Olympics.

Lee Chong Wei is seeded second in the men's singles and is expected to meet World No 1 Lin Dan of China in the final.